At the 5 day declaration stage, there are only 13 runners left in the Investec Oaks, the 3rd of the classics raced over a trip of 1 mile 4 furlongs.
Preview
The race has cut up a lot with both Lah Ti Dar & September now missing the race, making it an incredibly open looking race. With those 2 missing, I’m not sure we have another Enable on our hands, a filly that went on to land 4 more Group 1s last term including the Arc De Triomphe.
Favourites don’t fare too well in this with only Minding & Sariska landing the race having started favourite in the last 10 years. In fact, 5 of the last 10 winners have gone off at 20/1 or bigger. This year, we don’t have any horse that is a standout, bookies currently going 4/1 the field.
Favourites
Aiden O’Brien is the trainer responsible for 3 of the last 6 winners and saddles 8 of the 13 strong field here. That is off putting especially with it being unclear who is the yard’s best chance. Magical will probably be the mount of Ryan Moore having had a good 2 year old campaign but she’s yet to go beyond a mile & I think Bye Bye Baby & Magic Wand hold better claims. Of his 8, I’d back Magic Wand if pressed but the question mark has to be whether she’ll get the run of the race like she did at Chester last time out.
William Haggas saddles 2 in Sea Of Class and Give And Take. The former was very impressive when landing a Newbury listed event last time out. The trainer has said this race might come too soon & he doesn’t want to run her but the owner is apparently keen. That doesn’t make me want to take a price of 7/1. I do quite like the chances of Give And Take but admittedly she did win a substandard Musidora. She stayed on well that day & could run a big price at a price.
Wild Illusion is the current favourite having won the Marcel Boussac at the end of last time & then running well in 4th in the 1000 Guineas. Like Magical, she’s yet to go beyond a mile so I’m swerving her & instead backing the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Perfect Clarity. She’s only seen the track twice & she’s unbeaten.
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Betting
As a 2 year old, she won her only start in a novice event at Nottingham. Visually, she was impressive & looked a middle distance in the making. She confirmed that in her trial when landing the spoils at Lingfield by just over a length. The rider dropped his whip over a furlong out but, if anything, she was going clear at the end, quickening up smartly & then staying on strongly. In 2nd was Cecchini who had also only been out once but broke the juvenile track record at Kempton. That gives the form a boost.
Her combination of speed & stamina is perfect if you’re going to win an Oaks & that’s probably what is making her trainer bullish over her chance. She looks straightforward & her liking for Lingfield is a plus when taking on a track like Epsom. Were she trained by an O’Brien or a Gosden, I’m sure she’d be half her current odds. At 10/1 non runner no bet, I’m happy to get involved early.
Tips
Back Perfect Clarity (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 NRNB (¼ odds 1-3)
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